In this Bhagavad Gita series,
We're going to talk about the concept of desire.
In chapter 3 verse 36 of the Bhagavad Gita,
Arjuna asks Krishna,
What is it Krishna that causes us to go against our very own nature,
As if compelled by some invincible force?
So here we see that Arjuna is in the middle of a battlefield,
And he doesn't know if he should fight or not.
He's confused.
And so he asks Krishna,
What is it that causes us humans to make the wrong decision?
What is it that causes confusion in us,
That clouds our judgment,
That makes us go into emotions?
Because a lot of us,
We're confused about how to do our duty properly.
Should we go left?
Should we go right?
Should we stay with somebody?
Should we not?
And most of the time,
We end up making the wrong decision.
We take the wrong way.
And inevitably that leads to more suffering and more struggles.
So Arjuna says,
What is it that causes that,
Krishna?
And Krishna replies in that same chapter,
In the next few verses,
He says,
It is desire,
Arjuna.
Chapter 3,
Verse 38,
Krishna says,
So here,
Krishna says,
Krishna says,
Desire is what causes us to be confused about our duty.
So what is desire?
Desire is when we want things in this material world.
You see,
The ego is constantly looking to attach itself to all facets of this material world,
Because it perceives through gaining something,
It will have happiness.
The ego thinks,
If I get a new haircut,
I'll be happy.
If I get a new wife,
I'll be happy.
If I get a new job,
I'll be happy.
If I get a new car,
I'll be happy.
So the ego is constantly projecting itself to the things of the world and trying to attach itself to it or trying to acquire it,
Because it perceives by getting it,
It will be happy.
Because the ego is a part of this world.
It's a part of the material world.
The ego does not have higher knowledge.
Right?
So the ego is looking for happiness of things in this world.
But the number one quality of this world is that things are constantly changing.
Nothing ever stays.
So anything that you acquire will go with time.
Anything that will make you happy,
That happiness will go away after some time.
Either by you losing it or you just not being happy with it any longer.
It says the more and more you acquire something,
The less and less happiness you gain from that particular object over time.
And so the nature of humans is that we're very,
Very greedy.
We'll constantly seek to acquire more and more and more things of this world.
It is said that if we have everything in this world,
We will still not be happy.
This is the nature of greed.
This is the nature of letting the ego loose and trying to gain what we desire of this world.
So the Bhagavad Gita is focused on changing that desire.
So desire in itself is not bad.
But desire for material things will only lead you into more confusion and darkness.
But the desire to be of service,
The desire to know oneself,
That is good.
In that desire,
We strive to go deeper into the scriptures.
We strive to do more meditation.
We strive to do our practices and to be of service.
So we should cultivate the desire to know ourselves and let go of the desire of gaining things of the world.
That being said,
It's not about us going and becoming monks,
Giving up everything materially.
No,
It's good to be successful.
It's good to make money.
It's good to do things of the world because we need to survive.
But it's important to not be attached to it.
Understand it as a tool to help us to realize our true nature.
So rather than doing our duty for material gain,
We transform it into a spiritual practice.
So in that way,
We must turn the desires of the world to a desire of knowing who we are.
And if we can do that,
Then through constant practice and effort and perseverance,
We will acquire eternal bliss,
Eternal happiness.
But if we seek to gain desires of this world,
We might be happy momentarily,
But that will be fleeting.
That will go away.
We will never gain eternal happiness when we seek material desires.
Eternal happiness can only come when we seek to know who we truly are.
So with that,
I wish all of you a wonderful day.
I hope that you reflect on desires and more and more you turn inward and more and more this fire awakens inside of you to truly know your true self.
Much love.
Take care.
